The women's basketball team will travel to Ann Arbor to take on the University of Michigan on Monday.
The Pirates (2-1) are off to a good start winning their first two games of the season against NJIT and Lafayette before falling to Temple on Wednesday night. Senior guard Brittany Morris scored in double figures in all three games with a total of 50 points for the season. Morris, who played in all 31 games last season, recorded 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in the game against Lafayette College.
Morris, shooting .462 from beyond the arc, hopes to continue her success from three point range against the Wolverines.
"We look at each other as leaders individually," Morris said. "Anybody can be a leader. It comes down to respect, and that is something that we stress on this team."
The Pirates look to the experience of senior forwards Alexandra Maseko and Terry Green to have a big impact against Michigan. Maseko has a total of 23 points and 17 rebounds on the season. Green's started slow this year shooting just 5-22 from the field, but has been able to help the team with 13 points and five steals over the first three games.
"They know what the expectations are and they know how they can be successful in the system," Coach Donovan said about her senior leaders. "What I see from them this year in close games down the stretch is the composure and confidence that has definitely translated into our two wins."
The Pirates are also glad to see some of the new faces on the team stepping up and providing support from both an offensive and defensive standpoint. Freshman Tabatha Richardson-Smith is second on the team in scoring with 24 points, including 6-6 from the 3-point line.
After missing all of last season due to injury, redshirt-sophomore Ka-Deidre Simmons provides an outside scoring threat to go along with her seven rebounds and six assists after two games.
The Wolverines (2-0), under new coach Kim Barnes Arico, are comming of a 62-53 road win at Xavier. Forward Rachel Sheffer led the way for the Wolverines with 18 points and four assists.
Senior guard Jenny Ryan scored 8 points and recorded four steals in the victory.
Ryan, who was recently named team captain, averaged 6.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals last season. Senior Rachel Sheffer had a double-double in the home opener with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
The game at Michigan will be the final game before the Pirates travel to Malibu, Calif. for the Pepperdine Thanksgiving Tournament.
Michael Romano can be reached at michael.romano1@student.shu.edu.
